CORTEZ – One of the major benefits of having freshmen and sophomores as the backbone of the program means that the team has several years to generate a blueprint for success.
For the 2026 Montezuma-Cortez High School boys soccer team, first-year head coach Jeff Yarbrough catches the Panthers midstream in that process, leading a group that emerges from their status as the youngest team in the Intermountain League to one that boasts some of its deepest talent.
Each of the Panthers’ 22 goals scored in their 3-7-3 campaign from last fall came from either a sophomore or freshman. That core nucleus of players returns to the Panthers in their attack, while M-CHS will lean on seniors as part of a shored up defense.
Juniors Brandon Zamora and Degan Lake accounted for over half the team’s goals, as they form the spine of Yarbrough’s 4-3-3 alignment.
Classmates Abner Garcia and sophomore Landon Yarbrough each netted twice last year, and they join junior Corben Tallmadge and a front line that made improvements from offseason preparations – where Parque de Vida was abuzz with over twenty Panthers developing their communication during the summer months.
“They’re seeing the field better, recognizing where they need their teammates to be,” Yarbrough said, who has worked with many of the current team members since their early soccer development.
“We’re working on pushing through adversity – just continuing to play even when things don’t go your way,” he said.
The back line has been a major focus of the Panthers in the offseason, with Yarbrough bringing in assistant coach Jason Smith to support that unit.
“We’re really wanting to be disciplined and compact – we can’t be lunging for the ball,” Yarbrough said, “and if the defense is doing their job, it’ll also allow our midfielders to come back and help out as well.”
Coming off a summer filled with excitement of the men’s World Cup, Yarbrough’s players carried that enthusiasm to continue to sponge up even more insight about the sport.
“These kids know the game, and they watched how the top players in the world make their runs and use space,” said the Panthers’ new head coach.
M-CHS seeks to earn their best finish in the IML – they took runner-up eight years ago – and will have to flip the recent script against league powers Pagosa Springs and Bayfield in their pursuit of the program’s first postseason appearance since 2004.
The Panthers kick off the season on the road at Ridgway on Friday before their home opener four days later against Telluride on Aug. 25. M-CHS heads to Gallup for tournament action at Rehoboth Christian on Sept. 10 to 12 before league play begins on the road at Alamosa on Sept. 19.
Three of their final four matches are at home, as M-CHS hosts Pagosa Springs on Oct. 3, Alamosa on Oct. 10, and Bayfield on Oct. 20 to close out the regular season.
